Haiwaan Box Office Collection Day 1: Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan’s much-awaited thriller Haiwaan has opened to a relatively weak response at the Indian box office. The film, which also stars Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saiyami Kher, has recorded an estimated ₹3–4 crore net on its opening day in Hindi, according to the trade figures provided.
The opening places Haiwaan among the lower-performing Hindi openers of 2026 and puts considerable pressure on the film to show strong growth over the weekend.
Directed by Priyadarshan, Haiwaan is a Hindi adaptation of the filmmaker’s Malayalam thriller Oppam. While the combination of Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan and Priyadarshan generated interest before release, the film’s opening indicates that audience turnout has been limited on Day 1.
Here is a detailed look at the Haiwaan budget, Day 1 box office collection, screen count, economics and its position among the top opening Hindi films.
Haiwaan Box Office Collection Day 1
According to the trade estimate provided, Haiwaan has collected approximately ₹3 crore to ₹4 crore net in India on Day 1.
The film opened on Friday, giving it the opportunity to benefit from the weekend ahead. However, the initial numbers are considered underwhelming for a movie featuring two established Bollywood stars.
Haiwaan Day 1 Collection
| Day | India Net Collection |
|---|---|
| Day 1 – Friday | ₹3–4 crore |
| Total | ₹3–4 crore |
The Day 1 figure is a trade estimate and could vary depending on the final reporting from individual box-office tracking sources.
With the opening currently estimated in this range, Haiwaan is positioned around the 17th spot among the top opening days of Hindi films in 2026, according to the supplied list.
Why Is Haiwaan Opening Low?
One factor highlighted in the trade discussion is the performance of remakes in the post-pandemic era.
Haiwaan is based on Priyadarshan’s Malayalam film Oppam. While remakes have historically provided filmmakers with an established storyline, audiences today are increasingly exposed to regional Indian cinema through streaming platforms and dubbed releases.
That can make it more difficult for a remake to generate the same level of novelty as an entirely new story.
The film’s opening also comes against the backdrop of a competitive Hindi movie market, where audience expectations around star-led theatrical releases remain high.
Another factor is the film’s critical response. As reflected in early reviews, Haiwaan has received a mixed-to-negative reception, with several critics pointing toward its screenplay, runtime and inconsistent execution. Such reviews can influence weekday and weekend audience trends, particularly when the opening itself is not strong.
Haiwaan Budget
The reported estimated budget of Haiwaan is approximately ₹130 crore.
The reported breakdown is:
- Production cost: ₹115 crore
- Print and advertising (P&A): ₹15 crore
- Estimated total budget: ₹130 crore
A significant portion of the reported production expenditure is attributed to the remuneration of the leading names associated with the movie.
The reported salary figures include:
- Akshay Kumar: ₹54 crore
- Saif Ali Khan: ₹8 crore
- Priyadarshan: ₹14 crore
These figures are described as rumoured salaries rather than officially confirmed remuneration.
Akshay Kumar’s reported fee is particularly notable considering that several reviews have pointed out that the actor does not have a completely full-fledged role in the movie.
Haiwaan Needs a Major Box Office Turnaround
With an estimated budget of ₹130 crore, Haiwaan has a substantial recovery target.
According to the trade economics provided, the film needs approximately ₹100 crore in business to be considered average, while ₹130 crore is the reported benchmark for a hit.
However, box-office classification can depend on several factors, including distributor share, theatrical revenue, non-theatrical rights and the terms under which the movie has been sold.
The film has reportedly generated ₹72 crore from its satellite, digital and music rights, which is said to cover around 70% of its estimated budget.
That non-theatrical recovery gives the film some financial protection, but theatrical performance remains important for distributors and exhibitors.
Haiwaan Screen Count in India
Haiwaan reportedly released across approximately 2,000 screens in India.
For a film featuring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, the screen count represents a significant theatrical footprint.
The challenge now is to convert that availability into sustained occupancy.
A strong Saturday and Sunday could improve the film’s overall weekend performance. On the other hand, if occupancy remains weak, the film could face difficulty maintaining a large number of shows once competing releases begin to take advantage of available screens.
Haiwaan vs Top Opening Days of 2026
The reported Haiwaan Day 1 collection of ₹3–4 crore places it well below the year’s biggest Hindi openers.
According to the supplied trade list, Dhurandhar 2 leads the 2026 opening-day rankings with ₹75 crore, followed by Border 2 at ₹28 crore and Mirzapur The Movie at ₹24 crore.
The top 10 currently listed openers are:
- Dhurandhar 2 – ₹75 crore
- Border 2 – ₹28 crore
- Mirzapur The Movie – ₹24 crore
- Awarapan 2 – ₹22.5 crore
- Welcome 3 – ₹18.25 crore
- Bhoot (Bhooth) Bangla – ₹15 crore
- Dhamaal 4 – ₹13.75 crore
- Cocktail 2 – ₹12.5 crore
- Alpha – ₹9 crore
- O Romeo – ₹8 crore
At an estimated ₹3–4 crore, Haiwaan is considerably behind these major releases.
It is also narrowly positioned around the lower end of the top 20, alongside films such as Mardaani 3 and Raja Shivaji.
Haiwaan Compared With 2025 Hindi Openings
The opening also looks modest when compared with several major Hindi releases from the previous year.
The supplied 2025 list puts Chhaava at the top with ₹29 crore, followed by War 2 at ₹28 crore and Sikandar at ₹25 crore.
Other major openers included:
- Dhurandhar – ₹24 crore
- Thamma – ₹23 crore
- Housefull 5 – ₹21 crore
- Saiyaara – ₹20.5 crore
- Raid 2 – ₹17.6 crore
- Tere Ishk Mein – ₹15.25 crore
- Jolly LLB 3 – ₹11 crore
- Baaghi 4 – ₹11 crore
Against this backdrop, Haiwaan’s ₹3–4 crore opening represents a significantly smaller start.
Of course, opening-day performance does not determine the complete box-office journey. Movies can experience strong growth if audience word-of-mouth improves after the first day.
Haiwaan vs 2024 Hindi Openings
The gap becomes even more visible when compared with the biggest Hindi openers of 2024.
Stree 2 dominated that year’s opening-day rankings with ₹48.5 crore, followed by Singham Again at ₹38 crore and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 at ₹32 crore.
Other major opening-day figures included:
- Kalki 2898 AD – ₹21 crore
- Fighter – ₹20.5 crore
- Bade Miyan Chote Miyan – ₹15 crore
- Shaitaan – ₹14 crore
- Crew – ₹9 crore
- Bad Newz – ₹8 crore
- Mr. & Mrs. Mahi – ₹6.9 crore
Interestingly, several films with smaller opening numbers were still able to find audiences later through positive word-of-mouth. Therefore, Haiwaan’s next few days will be important in determining whether it can stabilize after the weak Friday.
Haiwaan vs 2023 Hindi Openings
The difference is even more pronounced when compared with the blockbuster opening days of 2023.
Jawan recorded ₹65.5 crore in Hindi on its opening day, while Pathaan collected ₹55 crore and Animal opened at ₹54.75 crore in Hindi.
The top 10 supplied figures for 2023 are:
- Jawan – ₹65.5 crore Hindi
- Pathaan – ₹55 crore Hindi
- Animal – ₹54.75 crore Hindi
- Tiger 3 – ₹44.5 crore
- Gadar 2 – ₹40.1 crore
- Adipurush – ₹37.25 crore
- Dunki – ₹28 crore
- Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan – ₹15.81 crore
- Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar – ₹15.73 crore
- Bholaa – ₹11.2 crore
Compared with these figures, Haiwaan is starting from a much lower base.
Can Haiwaan Recover Its Budget?
The major question now is whether Haiwaan can recover its theatrical targets despite the slow start.
The film reportedly has ₹72 crore in satellite, digital and music rights, which provides an important portion of its overall financial recovery.
According to the supplied economics, approximately ₹100 crore is required for the film to be considered average, while ₹130 crore is the reported hit benchmark.
A strong weekend could help narrow the gap, but the movie would need sustained collections beyond the opening weekend to reach those targets.
The film’s critical response will also play a role. A thriller generally depends heavily on audience word-of-mouth because viewers need to feel that the suspense and story are worth experiencing in theatres.
Haiwaan Box Office Collection Daywise: What to Expect
The first weekend will be crucial for Haiwaan.
The usual box-office pattern gives a Friday release three important opportunities: Saturday growth, Sunday stability and the first Monday test.
For Haiwaan, a significant increase on Saturday and Sunday would indicate that the film is finding support beyond its initial audience.
If the film remains close to its Day 1 levels, however, the overall theatrical run could become challenging given its reported ₹130 crore budget.
At this stage, the available information only provides the Day 1 estimate of ₹3–4 crore. The subsequent daywise collections will determine whether the film can build momentum.
Haiwaan Box Office Verdict
Haiwaan has opened below expectations despite featuring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, two established Bollywood stars, and being directed by Priyadarshan.
The reported ₹3–4 crore Day 1 net collection is a soft start for a film with an estimated ₹130 crore budget and around 2,000 screens across India.
However, the film’s reported ₹72 crore non-theatrical deal for satellite, digital and music rights means a significant portion of its investment has already been covered.
The immediate focus will now be on the weekend. If Haiwaan manages strong growth through positive audience response, it could improve its theatrical prospects. If collections remain subdued, reaching the reported average and hit benchmarks will become increasingly difficult.
For now, Haiwaan’s box office journey has begun on a disappointing note, and the next two to three days will be crucial in deciding whether the Akshay Kumar-Saif Ali Khan thriller can recover from its slow opening.